All About Arborvitaes | Ask This Old House

In this video, Ask This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada explains some of the basics of selecting and caring for a couple different species of arborvitae. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Jenn Nawada talks all about thuja occidentalis—also known as arborvitaes. Arborvitaes are fast growing evergreens with thick, textured needles that are drought resistant and low maintenance. Jenn enjoys using them in her designs and she shows her two favorite species of the tree: the green giant and the emerald green. For smaller spaces she explains that the emerald arborvitae is a good choice as it grows tall but not wide. They can be great for privacy screens and marking the edge of a property. The green giant, also known as the western arborvitae, has the ability to grow very fast and get very wide. Jenn likes putting this variety along a natural border. Unlike the emerald green, the green giant is deer resistant, a major plus in woodland communities. Jenn explains one of the major attractions of using these plants is the lack of maintenance it needs to still flourish, but still shares some tips on how to keep your arborvitaes in the best condition. Emerald Green Arborvitae * Grows tall, not wide. Good choice for smaller spaces. * Can be great for privacy screens and marking the edge of a property. Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae * Has the ability to grow very fast and get very wide. * Good along a more natural border. * Deer resistant. Arborvitae Maintenance: * Take out all deadwood. * You shouldn’t have to prune it unless there’s a branch bothering you. * If you want to prune it: cut at the V. * Choose if you want a formal or informal look. * If you would like a formal look, shear the whole side of the arborvitae in early spring, before any new growth emerges. * If you would like informal, let the plant grow naturally. Where to find it? Jenn discussed two types of arborvitae—a green giant and an emerald green—which can be found at most home centers and nurseries. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://ift.tt/3jclZ3N About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. Ask This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home. Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/AskTOHIG All About Arborvitaes | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/